Monday, October 3, 2016

A Shared Problem and Solution

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.  He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.  For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.  In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.  And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:13-22 NIV)

It was a “feel good” story that I couldn’t resist sharing on my Facebook page last week.  Police officers in a California town had given a bicycle to a young black man who had been walking several miles each way to work every day so he could save up for college.  With the news, and my newsfeed, filled with tragic stories of black men killed by police, this story helps us to see that an alternative narrative is possible.  

I have no idea if any of these police officers are followers of Jesus, but I do know this is a glimpse of what “breaking down the wall of hostility” looks like.  These officers, though of a different race or ethnic group, treated the young man as an equal, one deserving respect and kindness.  

We tend to think our country is the only society dealing with race and discrimination issues, but, in reality, it occurs in every society and has since the Fall.  In the 1st Century, Jews and non-Jews (Gentiles) were hostile toward one another.  The Jews viewed the Gentiles as sinners and unworthy of God’s blessings and mercy.  The Gentiles viewed the Jews as belonging to a weird sect of people who only believed in one God, which was viewed as very ludicrous thinking in a polytheistic culture.  At worst, they hated each other; at best, they viewed each other with suspicion and distrust.  

Even after Jesus rose from the dead, His followers struggled with the idea that God’s grace was given to the Gentiles.  Read here of their reaction to the Holy Spirit coming upon Cornelius’ household.  Even Peter struggled with his own prejudice long after Jesus ascended into heaven.  Read here how Paul called him out when he refused to eat with Gentiles for fear of upsetting Jewish believers.

Whether we want to admit it or not, prejudice is in our fallen DNA. We’re bent toward it.  It is difficult to relate to those who are different from us, and often, to justify it, we consider ourselves superior.  Our prejudice isn’t always limited to race or ethnicity; it can be toward others in a different economic class, social class, political affiliation, religion or church denomination, or even fans of a different sports team.  And, as I wrote several weeks ago, Jesus is the only way to overcome our prejudices.

As He says in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father but through me.”  The fact is we are all sinners and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23).  Sin, in other words, makes us all equal, regardless of our skin color, ethnicity, etc. So we all have a shared problem that has only one solution—Jesus.  

What Paul is saying here is the prejudices we inherently have can cease when we acknowledge our mutual sin and our mutual need for a Savior.  In other words, we are all in the same sinking boat and we are all dependent on the same Source for our rescue.  

Today, consider honestly the prejudices you hold.  Confess them to the Lord and humbly acknowledge that, as a sinner, you are no better than those toward whom you have considered yourself in some way superior.  They are your equals, and, if they are followers of Jesus, your brothers or sisters as well.

© Jim Musser 2016

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